Bald Head Island Lighthouse “Old Baldy”

Quick Facts

Bald Head Island Lighthouse was built in 1817.
It is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina
It cost just under $16,000 to build.
The structure is 109′ 10-3/4″ tall, made of brick and coated with cement.
The tower is no longer in service, however serves as a tourist attraction.
Bald Head Island is fourteen miles north to south, and 3.6 miles east to west.

History of “Old Baldy” and Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island, which is part of Smith Island, got its nickname from the dunes on the south beach. The dunes, along the island, eventually became worn down and resembled a bald head.

It was decided to place a lighthouse on Bald Head Island to guide ships through the channels and sand bars in the channels the Cape Fear River. In addition, one was also needed to help vessels avoid the treacherous Frying Pan Shoals, which extends over 20 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean.

North Carolina’s first lighthouse structure was constructed in 1795. This light station was the located on the southwest point of Bald Head Island. The light station was ordered to be destroyed due to severe erosion along the river. Funds were approved the same year for the construction of a new light station. It was not until 1816 that efforts were made to obtain bids for the construction of the new light.

The new octagonal tower, “Old Baldy,” as it is affectionately known, was first illuminated in 1817. This is the present lighthouse on Bald Head Island. At its base “Old Baldy” is thirty-six feet (36′) wide, and its walls are five feet (5′) thick. The top the lighthouse is fourteen feet and six inches (14′-6″) wide and two feet and six inches (2′-6″) thick. The foundation and the platform for the lantern room are constructed of stone. The tower is constructed of brick and painted with plaster on the exterior. The ground floor is made of brick, while the remaining floor joist and the stairs are made from North Carolina Yellow Pine.

The first lighthouse keepers cottage was located the on the west side of “Old Baldy.” Due to erosion the keepers cottage was destroyed. It was replaced in the 1850’s with a one and one-half story cottage located on the east side of the lighthouse. The second structure was destroyed by fire. As a result the a larger 2-story in 1883 in the same location as the previous keepers cottage, reusing some of the original brick piers. This too was lost to a fire in 1931. A museum was built on the same spot, replicating the 2-story cottage.

Trivia Note: The Island may look familiar to you, this was the Island that Weekend at Bernie’s (1989) was filmed on, as well as The Butcher’s Wife (1991), and Pirate Kids II: The Search for the Silver Skull (2006).

Visitor Information

Directions:

From Hwy 17/74 south of Wilmington, Take 133 south to 211 south and once in the town of Southport, turn right on 9th street. Take 9th to Plantation Drive and you will reach the ferry landing that will take you to the island. Information Contact (910) 457-7481 for more information about Bald Head Lighthouse

The following link allows you to create a custom driving route to the Ferry that takes you to Bald Head Island

Driving directions to Bald Head Lighthouse

Hours:

Summer Hours
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m
Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Winter Hours
Please call 910-457-7481 for hours.

The ferry ride is a people only ferry and costs $15 per person for a round trip. Once on the island, you can rent bikes to get around since there are no vehicles allowed.

The lighthouse is very close to the ferry landing so you can easily walk there. It also has a small museum that is set up similar to what the keepers house would look like. There is also a shop that sells books, shirts, and various lighthouse related items. It costs $3 to climb enter the museum and climb the lighthouse.

There is a chapel that was built in 1987 near the lighthouse that is open to the public. Across from the lighthouse is a small post office.

Historic Island Tours
Tuesday-Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Meet at the Island Ferry landing
Cost: $45/Adults and $40/Children 12 and under, price includes Ferry, Tour and Lunch ($30 for island guests)
Call 910-457-5003 for reservations.

Amenities

If you are staying on the island, you will have a couple of choices for dining which include the River Pilot Cafe, and Eb & Flo’s Marina Steam Bar.

The River Pilot Cafe is a nice place to dine. Lunch is fairly reasonable around $8-10 per person, Dinner is a little more, expect to pay around $30 per person.

Eb & Flo’s is more reasonably priced and includes mostly seafood, but you can also get hamburgers & sandwiches.

The island also has a grocery store called Maritime Market & Delicatessen that sells almost everything you would expect from a grocery store.

You can rent bikes & golf carts from Island Passage which is located near the ferry landing. Call ahead to reserve them 910-457-4944 - they prefer 24 hour reservation on golf carts.

Maps of Bald Head Island Lighthouse

View Larger Map
Handicapped Access

Although the island is not designed to accommodate mobility impaired visitors, it is negotiable with assistance. The ferry is handicap accessible as well as many of the resorts and bed and breakfast’s.

Lighthouse Resources and Points of Interest

Old Baldy Foundation 910-457-7481	This is the group that oversees the maintenance and preservation of the the Bald Head Island Lighthouse
Bald Head Island Conservancy P.O. Box 3007 Bald Head Island, NC 28461 Phone: (910) 457-7481 email@bhic.org	The group that fosters education of nature: maritime forests, sea turtles and other
Bald Head Island Official Site	For vacation rentals and activities available during your stay on Bald Head Island
Southport - Oak Island Chamber of Commerce	Great resource if you want to know more about the Southport - Oak Island area
Southport Maritime Museum	Maritime Museum in Southport
Bald Head Island Ferry	Bald Head Island Ferry in Southport Indigo Plantation vicinity. This is the ferry you need to take if you are going to Bald Head Island.